STAR Services rebrands as Center for Academic Success

Lamar University's Student Tutoring and Retention Services, commonly known as STAR Services, has been rebranded as the Center for Academic Success, a change university officials say better reflects the department's expanding role in supporting undergraduate students.

The transition marks a shift from a name that primarily highlighted tutoring services to one that encompasses the full range of academic support programs offered by the department.

"The name STAR Services emphasized some of what we did," Dr. Hilda Billups, director of the Center for Academic Success said. "In addition to our great peer-led tutoring services, we provide so much more. The new name embraces our future as a learning center and better aligns us with our peers at other colleges and universities across the nation."

The Center for Academic Success serves approximately 2,000 students annually and offers a variety of resources designed to help students navigate academic challenges and reach graduation. Services include tutoring, supplemental instruction, academic coaching, transition support and educational workshops.

Billups said the new name reinforces the department's commitment to student achievement and is accompanied by a streamlined mission statement.

"The new name represents our commitment to helping students succeed," Billups said. "We have also simplified the department's mission to: The Mission of Lamar University's Center for Academic Success is to help undergraduate students succeed."

The rebrand also coincides with the expansion of several student support initiatives. The center is broadening its transition services to better assist transfer students and students with foster care experience. Additional resources are also being developed for students on academic probation.

"Student success and retention is the core of what we do," Billups said. "Every program, event, workshop or opportunity we offer is designed to help students be better at being students and ultimately graduate."

While the center already reaches thousands of students each year, Billups hopes the rebranding will encourage even more students to take advantage of the available resources.

"We serve about 2,000 students each year, but we always want to serve more," she said. "We won't be satisfied until every undergraduate student utilizes our services."

Billups said she hopes the Center for Academic Success will become a destination where students find both practical assistance and a sense of confidence in their academic journey.

"The significance of this transition is that it better communicates who we are and what we do," Billups said. "Our goal is for students to gain the skills, strategies and support they need to be successful not only in the classroom, but throughout their time at Lamar University and beyond."

The Center for Academic Success is available to all undergraduate students and serves as a hub for academic support, student development and retention efforts across campus.

To learn more about the Center for Academic Success, listen to the LU Moment podcast episode here.